Notebook: Steelers preparing to defend Browns' 'personality' regardless of starting QB

Baker Mayfield or Case Keenum?

For Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, it doesn’t matter which veteran quarterback starts Sunday for the Cleveland Browns.

Tomlin said Tuesday he’s preparing to defend the system and not the passer when the 3-3 Steelers and 4-3 Browns meet in an AFC North game at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Mayfield tore his labrum and fractured a bone in his left (non-throwing) shoulder Week 6 against Arizona. Keenum, who is in his second year as Mayfield’s backup, started the Browns’ game last Thursday and led Cleveland to a 17-14 victory against Denver.

“When you have a veteran quarterback, you don’t lose a lot of your personality,” Tomlin said. “That stood out to me watching that last game.”

Keenum’s start was the 63^rd of his 10-year NFL career. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

The game ended Mayfield’s run of 51 consecutive starts since early in his rookie season. Mayfield is hoping to return with a brace on his shoulder, but he did not practice Monday when Cleveland began preparations for the Steelers.

“I’m not overly concerned right now with who their quarterback might be,” Tomlin said. “We’re looking at what it is they do collectively – their run game, coordinated play-action and misdirection passing game and how they utilize the guys they get the ball to.

“We have some big-time challenges.”

Injury update

Tomlin admitted that the return of defensive end Stephon Tuitt from injured reserve is “not imminent.”

Tuitt was placed on injured reserve before the start of the season and has been eligible to return for several weeks. Tuitt had knee surgery in the preseason and has done limited conditioning work on the practice field.

“Although it is going well and he’s progressing, it’s not enough for participation,” Tomlin said.

Once Tuitt is deemed healthy enough to practice, he will be designated to return, giving the Steelers a three-week window in which to add him to the 53-man roster.

Running back Anthony McFarland will be activated from injured reserve this week, Tomlin said. His role on the Steelers behind starter Najee Harris will be determined in practice this week.

Tomlin listed no other injuries as the Steelers returned from their bye.

“I like the overall health of the group,” he said. “I don’t know if health is going to be a significant issue for any of the guys or their availability as we go into this week.”

Too many tackles?

Zach Banner’s return from injured reserve before the bye provides an option at right tackle where Chuks Okorafor has started for five of the Steelers’ six games. Joe Haeg subbed for Okorafor in Week 4 and is an option on the left side behind rookie starter Dan Moore Jr.

“We have decisions to make, but those are not real problems. Those are good problems to have,” Tomlin said. “We have quality capable tackles. We’ll sort out those things this week with how we divide the labor.”